Final phase of Waypointe calls for iPic theater

Published 3:45 pm, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

NORWALK -- New retail, a restaurant, a fitness center and plush movie theater are part of the fourth and final phase of the West Avenue redevelopment project known as Waypointe.

Under the plan, the existing Loehmann's Plaza building at 467 West Ave. would be demolished to create additional on-grade parking and the nearby Stark Carpet building at 17 Butler St. would be expanded to create space for new uses.

"That building will be renovated and expanded and within that structure there will be a fitness center, retail and a movie center called iPic," said Elizabeth B. Suchy, attorney for the Waypointe development team. "iPic is a new movie experience for moviegoers. It has a variety of entertainment offerings to supplement the movie experience, including a dining experience."

Suchy said the Norwalk iPic theater, if the development plan is approved, would include 620 seats and at least a half-dozen movie screens.

Under the redevelopment plan, the Loehmann's building would be demolished, and the building housing the Gap, Inc., store would remain.

The historic two-story brick building at 3 Quincy St. would be relocated, according to Suchy.

The Zoning Commission's Zoning Committee is scheduled to review the plan next Thursday.

"It seems to comply with zoning (regulations). We're checking the details," said Michael B. Greene, the city's director of planning and zoning. "It's a wonderful addition to the entertainment value we're trying to add to West Avenue."

Unlike the development plans already approved for the north, mid- and east blocks of Waypointe, the proposal for 467 West Ave. and 17 Butler and 3 Quincy streets includes no residential uses.

Phase One of Waypointe entails 465 apartments and retail in the midblock area bounded by West Avenue and Orchard and Merwin streets, as well as the nearby former Bigelow Tea Co. warehouse, which is being reshaped into apartments and retail space. Some of the apartments are already occupied.

On May 21, Zoning commissioners approved plans for 69 residential units and associated parking for what is known as the east block of Waypointe at 26-36 Orchard St. and 2 Quincy St.